Armies of Summer

Chapter Twenty

Casterly Rock - Year 300 - Jaime's Office

Arya had been given a letter by Maester Creylen, and after reading it, had run to find Jaime. It was a letter from the King, and she knew that he was busy, he had told her that his father and the minor lords of the Westerlands were all meeting with him throughout the week, but obviously this could not wait. So she ran, and when she arrived, and knocked on the heavy wooden door, it was her son, Tywin, who answered the door.

Jaime had thought that it was time to start bringing Tywin into a leadership role, as he was of an age to be married, so Jaime would be able to step down soon. Tywin gave her a soft smile as he opened the door wider for her to come in.

"Mother, what are you doing here?" Arya gave her eldest a soft smile before walking past him into the room, where all of the lords of their kingdom were sitting around a large wooden table, with Jaime at the head. When they saw her enter, they all rose and gave her a slight bow, before looking at her in a confusion similar to her son.

"My Lords, I beg your pardon, I just need a moment of my Lord Husband's time. I am sure you will forgive my intrusion." Randyll Tarly, the Lord of Horn Hill gave her a severe nod before he began to leave the room, followed closely by Gregor Clegane, Amory Lorch, Addam Marbrand, Harys Swyft, Leo Lefford, Reginald Lannister, and Kevan Lannister, Jaime's Uncle. Jaime's father gave Arya a slow look before he began to follow the other men out of the room, and Tyrion unsteadily rose from his chair and began to make his way out of the room as well.

"Tywin, Tyrion, son, please stay. This concerns you as well." Arya said quietly, turning to her son, his namesake, and her brother-in-law before they could fully leave the room. They both nodded before returning to the table and taking their seats. Arya turned to look at Jaime, who had not spoken since she arrived, but he had not let his eyes leave her either.

"What is it my love?" Jaime asked softly as he rose to pull out the empty chair to his left where Kevan had been sitting. Arya quickly made her way to the seat and sat down before speaking.

"We have received a letter from Robert and Cersei. Jon Arryn is very sick, and it doesn't seem like he is going to get better. Grand Maester Pycelle has done everything he could do, but nothing has worked. Robert has requested that we head to King's Landing for Jon's funeral, which he is sure will be occurring within the week. If Jon dies, Robert says that he will be taking the court to Winterfell... to ask Ned if he will be the new Hand of the King, and he requests that we take the journey with him, to help him convince Ned to leave." Jaime nodded slowly as he took his seat again, as Tyrion let out a heavy sigh from beside her and began to pour her and himself a glass of wine. She was sure it was not his first, but was glad that he had thought to pour her one as well, and when it was placed before her, she downed it quickly.

"Did the King say if this is a request, or an order?" Tywin said in his soft, yet strong voice from across from Arya. He wasn't looking at her, and she knew he didn't want to go back there.

"He did not say, but it did not sound like a request to me. He only asked that Jaime, myself, and our children attend, and go North. So I am sure you could stay here and continue to manage things in our stead. Tyrion, I am sure you could come if you wanted, but I don't think you have to. However, Jaime, our children, and I do have to go. I don't think we have a choice." Jaime looked over at her as he gently grabbed her hand in his, knowing that she did not want to see her brother again.

"Very well. We shall go, tell them to start preparing for a long trip, we probably will be gone for several months. Tyrion, are you coming?" Jaime asked, in his lordly voice that he had developed over the years.

"I suppose, maybe on the way back, I'll swing up to the Wall, see what it's like."

"Tywin?" Arya asked softly to her father-in-law, that, despite his reputation as a cold hearted, unloving man, she had grown rather close to since her marriage to Jaime.